⏱️ Estimated Reading Time: 2 min read
Justification by Faith: Declared Righteous Through Christ
Author: Dave Jenkins Show: Contending for the Word Q&AShow Summary
Few doctrines are more important to the Christian faith than justification. In this episode of Contending for the Word Q&A, Dave Jenkins explains that justification is God’s legal declaration that guilty sinners are righteous in His sight through faith in Jesus Christ alone.Justification is not God pretending that sinners are righteous, nor is it the process of becoming progressively holy. Rather, it is a once-for-all declaration grounded in the finished work of Christ. Jesus lived the perfect life sinners could never live, bore the judgment sinners deserve, and credits His righteousness to all who trust in Him.Through justification by faith, believers have peace with God, freedom from condemnation, and assurance that their acceptance before God rests on Christ—not on their performance.Listen or Watch
Key Takeaways
- Every person stands guilty before a holy God because of sin.
- Justification is God’s declaration that a sinner is righteous in His sight.
- Believers are justified by grace through faith, apart from works.
- Christ’s righteousness is credited to believers through faith.
- Justification gives Christians peace with God and assurance in Christ.
Scripture References
- Romans 3:21–26
- Romans 5:1
- 2 Corinthians 5:21
- Galatians 2:16
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah, and lives in beautiful Southern Oregon. He is a writer, editor, and speaker who loves Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology.
Dave serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries and the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine. He is the Host and Producer of the Equipping You in Grace Podcast and a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word.
He is the author of The War of Worldviews: Truth, Lies, and the Battle for the Christian Mind (Theology for Life, 2026), Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age and The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021).
You can connect with Dave on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, or subscribe to his newsletter.
When he is not engaged in ministry work, Dave enjoys spending time with his wife, going to movies, sharing a meal at a favorite restaurant, or playing a round of golf with friends. He is also a voracious reader, particularly of Reformed theology and the Puritans, and is often found working through a stack of new books from a wide range of Christian publishers.
Dave earned his M.A.R. and M.Div. from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
